HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-29-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of November 29 1995 Meeting scheduled for Room 105 , but moved
to Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, as approved January
24, 1996
The meeting was called to order by Chairman pro tem McCabe at 7 37 p m
Present were other committee members Bruckman, Edson, Kennedy, Scanlon
and Touart as well as Barrie Feltz of the School Committee, Carol
Mahoney and Julie Triessl of Cary Library, John Moynihan of the School
Department and Town Engineer Francis X Fields Also present from the
Police Department were Chief Christopher Casey, John Kilmartin and
Philip Taylor and from the Fire Department Chief John Quinlan and
Assistant Chief Richard Sullivan
Dispatch Center Reported that the equipment is working well The
Securnet system for squelching sensitive messages is back on line
However, the cooling needs of the dispatch center are not being met by
the independent cooling unit installed for that purpose This was
particularly evident during the months of July and August Following a
discussion with the architect , TMP Engineers working with Ed Mello will
rebalance the system and then test for air exchange to see if it is
sufficient Presently there does not seem to be enough fresh air in the
space, which is at 80 degrees in summer Several people must work in
that small space
Audio also needs improvement , both in the dispatch room as well as in
off-base equipment and vehicles Audio consultants Tocci and Cavanaugh
will check on this In response to question, reported that other
offices on the first floor are finished, including door locks that took
a long time The punch list has been resolved Air in the cells seems
to be 0 K but it also will be checked When asked for possible reason
for the prolonged difficulties , the response was "low bid"
Fire Department Headquarters ventilation system has been rebid and the
contract awarded to a different contractor The price is now
substantially less Asked if any legal issues would be involved due to
dispute of the first award Problems with ventilation are related to
mold in the basement The DPW plans to do more drainage work outside to
help that situation Among other present problems in the building a
warped door that does not fit and a shower leaking from the second
floor
Cary Library outline of project , including "Goals and Objectives" and
"Building Program" has been prepared by architects Hale and Bennett
(whose projects received two awards of state funding) Staff and
committee have done their homework and deadlines are being met
Engineer Sergio Sciani has been through the building twice and will come
again tomorrow The library' s original documentation and photos have
been helpful Brief surveys were sent to 12 ,000 residents Of those
2 , 000 have been returned with good comments There will be 500 follow-
up calls
Staff has had ample opportunity for input into planning for the 200 ,000 F
item collection enhanced with electronic and interlibrary loans A time
PBC Minutes of 11/29/95 - Page 2
line and bubble diagram have been prepared, as well as three plans
Another is now being prepared Expansion of the building as well as
of parking is needed Two deck parking on the side is envisioned A
"Letter of Intent" is due to the State by December 15
The project costs have been rough estimated at $6 million, $120 per
square foot for 50 , 000 square feet The financing committees will have
to devise ways not to involve an override of Proposition 2 1/2
Deadlines ahead
February 14 plans due from architects
April 16 - plans due to the Board of Library Commissioners ,
with cost figures pinned down
During this time the Library Building Committee and the PBC will be
looking over the plans carefully
Among the questions now being raised How much expansion is necessary?
More services? How many terminals and connections to the Internet (50
to 75 , plus 50 within the library) Parking only 67 spaces are
available now, and parking for 114 cars should be supplied; state and
town parking requirements must be addressed
Entrances in relation to community use and parking patterns are now
being reviewed A soils consultant has also been brought in Inside
the building a third level is envisioned, as there is room under the
roof or inside part of the large high ceiling room
Schools Moynihan praised for virtual completion of work on the
Hastings School Only a few boiler and contractor problems remain,
related to the low bidder-subcontractor difficulty exacerbated by
changing job superintendents and lack of clerk-of-the-works Work on
Hastings should be completed by the end of the winter holiday vacation
At the high school some parts for the boiler-burner are awaited The
first new boiler is soon to be tested Since one burner can carry the
building, a total shutdown is not favored
1
An RFP for networking and electrical work tied together attracted few 1
bidders Shooshanian and CCR were the only ones considered Approval
to spend money for this project came from the state six weeks ago
At Harrington, there may not be enough money to cover cost of replacing
windows and doors An RFP is out for design costs at $35-40 ,000
Space Planning on the Secondary Level is now going on with an in-house
committee plus pro bono services by a parent At Diamond and Clarke
technology centers are being envisioned At the high school
intergenerational needs are a consideration State requirements for
space and program must be met , as well as educational needs for the 20th
century, along with the challenge of bulging secondary school
populations A very high percentage of Lexington High School students
go on to higher education
Contentions with J P construction are trying to be settled by the
Town' s attorneys , Moynihan reported Something like $50 , 000 was
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mentioned, although the town really owes him only about $15 , 000 It
appears that the differences with Smith Groves will go to litigation
Committee Elections were held and William Bruckman was elected chairman
Secretary agreed to notify Town Manager and Town Clerk of the new
chairman and to provide a list of committee minutes awaiting approval
Meeting adjourned at 9 45 p m
Respectfully submitted,
Erna S Greene, Secretary